Need a free email prog for Win7

Erin · 12 January 2010, 15:04

We've just ended up with a new pc that has Windows 7 on it. I'm just about getting to grips with finding where they've hidden all the settings and control panels, and now find that Outlook 2k won't work on it. Does anyone know of a reasonable freebie that works similarly to MS Outlook (so it's easy to learn)?

JSP · 12 January 2010, 15:15

I've just got windows 7 myself. Try thunderbird from the firefox team. It's a good little program. If your running a 64bit system like me you may have to have a few goes at installing it.
http://en-gb.www.mozillamessaging.co...B/thunderbird/

Channel Ribs · 12 January 2010, 15:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin

We've just ended up with a new pc that has Windows 7 on it.

Shouldaboughtamac.

Erin · 12 January 2010, 15:48

Macs are for girls

(and arty types). I'll have a good manly pc over a mac anyday.

Channel Ribs · 12 January 2010, 15:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin

Macs are for girls

(and arty types). I'll have a good manly pc over a mac anyday.

Manly?

Channel Ribs · 12 January 2010, 15:57

I cant believe you bit.

Erin · 12 January 2010, 16:10

Not sure I see myself as either of those caricatures. Which 'camp' are you claiming to be in?

Anyway, technology's only a problem if you can't understand it. Macs were made for people who can't read an instruction manual or help file. There is something satisfying about succeeding with an esoteric system.

Channel Ribs · 12 January 2010, 16:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin

Anyway, technology's only a problem if you can't understand it. Macs were made for people who can't read an instruction manual or help file. There is something satisfying about succeeding with an esoteric system.

My job to get me through college was installing PCs and networks for companies like Arthur Anderson, so I have an idea about the satisfaction of which you speak. This was before Windows 95 was even a twinkle in Bill Gates' eye.

My first experience of a Mac was when the father in law bought one of those bright orange all in ones, what a gimmick I thought, not even a proper computer. It took me a few years until I converted fully and as you can see, I can evangelise as much as the next trendy/girly/arty Apple Fan.

The two characters are from a very old magazine by the way, I believe it inspired the very successful comedy duo TV ads of the naughties.

Perhaps the best illustration of Mac versus PC is the old email that points out amusing little quirks that a car might have if it were made by Microsoft, like pressing Start to stop it.

willfinch36 · 12 January 2010, 16:22

If you have hotmail - Windows Live Mail is good.

JSP · 12 January 2010, 16:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin

Not sure I see myself as either of those caricatures. Which 'camp' are you claiming to be in?

Anyway, technology's only a problem if you can't understand it. Macs were made for people who can't read an instruction manual or help file. There is something satisfying about succeeding with an esoteric system.

Ohhhh don't dis the Mac's !! Have used them for photo and video editing and there is no competition from a windows based PC.

Erin · 12 January 2010, 18:03

Yeah I know. But once you go down the route of the pc it's difficult to convince yourself to change over to a different breed.

Channel Ribs · 12 January 2010, 18:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin

Yeah I know. But once you go down the route of the pc it's difficult to convince yourself to change over to a different breed.

Borrow one.

The thing that clinched it for me was accidentally opening 30 high res photos in Photoshop, I expected it to open them as a preview but instead I was faced with a stack of ready to edit images that would have crashed my PC of the time just at the suggestion.

Mind you, Apple's presence in the CIs sucks big time.

iQue in St Helier or okayish and that place next to B&Q is just odd.

Siochair · 12 January 2010, 18:25

I have started using GMX for email. http://mail-eu.gmx.com/
It's a free web based service. I've been using it for some time now and it does everything that I need. I've only had one problem with it so far and that was quickly resolved by the support folk who were the soul of consideration in not pointing out that my fumbling fingers were the source of my woes and gently pointed me in the correct direction. One of the biggest attractions to me is being able to access it from anywhere there is a pc/interweb connection.

Poly · 12 January 2010, 18:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siochair

I have started using GMX for email. http://mail-eu.gmx.com/
It's a free web based service. I've been using it for some time now and it does everything that I need. I've only had one problem with it so far and that was quickly resolved by the support folk who were the soul of consideration in not pointing out that my fumbling fingers were the source of my woes and gently pointed me in the correct direction. One of the biggest attractions to me is being able to access it from anywhere there is a pc/interweb connection.

Siochair - me too (although I still use other applications too, and if the OP is looking for a traditional app with an outlook 'feel' Thunderbird is worth a try!). Gmx can collect and send (or appear to) mail from other mailboxes too - so it is "just like outlook etc". Perhaps worth mentioning that the USP for GMX (over other free mail services like gmail) is that although it opens in your browser it presents a user interface that is to all intents and purposes just like using a desktop application and will feel very familiar to e.g. an ex Outlook user.

Nasher · 12 January 2010, 19:11

This might be a silly question, but is windows mail not good enough?
It is very similar to outlook.

I have four email accounts all running back and downloading into windows mail and it works fine.
Obviously no out of office or calender, but it depends what you want it for.

Nasher.

Erin · 12 January 2010, 20:18

My original request was for the benefit of a colleague who has an email account with a local provider, whose web-based access is really pretty pants. I was therefore looking for a simple pop3 system that resembled/operated similarly to Outlook which he had just about got the hang of.

I haven't looked into Windows Mail properly, but after a quick google it seemed to be either IMAP style or rely on a specific MS email account e.g. Hotmail, to work. I may be wrong.

The firefox or thunderbird sound along the right lines, though... so thanks.

Edit: just done a search and have found that Live Mail replaced Windows Mail, and is available as a free download off microsofts website. Will give this a try in the morning. Looks like it can handle pop accounts still.

Doug Stormforce · 12 January 2010, 21:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin

Macs were made for people who can't read an instruction manual or help file.

And PCs are for people that go onto a rib forum to ask how to use their machine?!!!!

No, Macs are for people that like things that work. PCs are for the rest of you.

bazza · 12 January 2010, 22:00

I am using Microsoft Outlook with Windows 7

slimtim · 13 January 2010, 13:50

I can't see why ms outlook 2k doesn't work? it should just run in 32bit mode shouldn't it? Anyway, windows live mail, which is available for download with the windows live pack (you can choose whether to download all the other guff) seems to be ok. It can work with either IMAP or POP and with any email account, it doesn't have to be a hotmail one (although you may need a hotmail account to download, not really an issue though, you don't have to use it).

Erin · 13 January 2010, 16:05

Thanks all. All sorted now. Managed to get Windows Mail up and running with his POP account and he seems happy

.

Incidentally, Outlook 2k def doesn't work. Win 7 won't acknowledge it as a default email prog and it won't send or recieve. It just spews out lots of error messsages. You also cannot import old messages from a store as it claims there is a missing dll somewhere.